How do you measure the impact of a non-profit leader?

2 Collect and analyze data

The second step to measure your impact as a non-profit leader is to collect and analyze data. Data can help you monitor your activities, outputs, and outcomes. It can also help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Data can come from various sources, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, reports, feedback, testimonials, and stories. You can use different methods and tools to collect and analyze data, such as logic models, theories of change, outcome mapping, balanced scorecards, and dashboards. You can also use software and platforms that are designed for non-profit evaluation, such as Charity Navigator, GuideStar, ImpactMatters, and Sopact.

4 Learn and improve your leadership

The fourth step to measure your impact as a non-profit leader is to learn and improve your leadership. Measuring your impact is not only a way to show your results, but also a way to learn from your experiences, challenges, and successes. By learning from your data, feedback, and stories, you can identify the areas where you need to improve your leadership skills, knowledge, and behaviors. You can also recognize the best practices and innovations that you can replicate or scale up. You can use different resources and opportunities to learn and improve your leadership, such as coaching, mentoring, training, peer learning, networking, and self-reflection.

5 Engage and empower your team

The fifth step to measure your impact as a non-profit leader is to engage and empower your team. Measuring your impact is not a solo endeavor, but a collaborative process that involves your staff, volunteers, board, partners, and beneficiaries. By engaging and empowering your team, you can foster a culture of learning, improvement, and innovation. You can also leverage the diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences of your team members. You can use different ways to engage and empower your team, such as involving them in goal setting, data collection, analysis, reporting, and communication. You can also provide them with feedback, recognition, and support.

6 Align and collaborate with others

The sixth step to measure your impact as a non-profit leader is to align and collaborate with others. Measuring your impact is not only a way to assess your own performance, but also a way to understand your contribution to the broader sector and society. By aligning and collaborating with others, you can increase your reach, influence, and sustainability. You can also learn from and share with other non-profit leaders, organizations, and networks. You can use different platforms and mechanisms to align and collaborate with others, such as coalitions, alliances, partnerships, coalitions, and movements.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?